BROOKINGS – The Jackrabbits saw their 11-match home unbeaten streak come to a close on Sunday as Creighton scored in the 10th minute and then held on for a 1-0 nonconference win at Fishback Soccer Park.
The Bluejays controlled the early part of the match before Kaira Houser intercepted a pass in the middle of the field just outside of the box, dribbled in and fired a point-blank shot low into the right corner that beat SDSU keeper Maggie Smither for the goal.
From there, the Jackrabbits upped their intensity as both teams finished with seven shots over the first 45 minutes, while SDSU held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Creighton started the second half with another surge, but the Jacks had the upper hand over the final 40 minutes, but couldn’t level the score and dropped to 3-3 on the season.
“I thought for a large portion of the game we had a great rhythm,” Jackrabbit head coach Brock Thompson said to SDSU Sports Information. “It was unfortunate to allow an early goal, because that always makes the game a little more difficult.
“But, I thought there’s a good lesson in there, that if you play really well for a large portion of the game, but have lapses, the game can punish you. And hats off to Creighton, that’s what happened today.”
Marisa Schulz, Annie Williams and Bianca Madonia each had two shots, including a shot on goal apiece as both teams had 13 shots for the match. Karlee Manding and Allie Zueger each added two shots as Smither collected six saves.
Game Notes (From SDSU Sports Information)
• South Dakota State is now 2-11-1 all-time against Creighton, having split the last four matchups evenly.
• The Jackrabbits’ unbeaten streak of 11 home games began last season in a 1-0 victory over North Dakota on Aug. 25.
Up Next
On Friday, the Jacks play host to Northern Iowa at Fishback. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Register photo: SDSU’s Rachel Hewitt fires a cross past Creighton’s Haylee Blach during the first half of the Jackrabbits’ 1-0 loss to the Bluejays on Sunday at Fishback Soccer Park. South Dakota State, 3-3 on the season, plays host to Northern Iowa on Friday at 6 p.m.
